Technical brief
Technical Brief – COVID’s impact on science achievement: Trends from 2019 through 2024
September 2024
By: Susan Kowalski, Scott J. Peters, Megan Kuhfeld, Gustave Robinson, Karyn Lewis

Description
This is the accompanying technical brief to the new report (Covid’s impact on science achievement: Trends from 2019 through 2024) that examines the pandemic’s impacts on academic achievement and gain in Science and continues ongoing research by NWEA® analyzing the degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic, and its associated school closures, influenced student learning.
See MoreTopics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth
Associated Research
Related Topics


Technical appendix for “Hot test days, lower math scores: How heat affects student achievement”
This is the technical appendix to “Hot test days, lower math scores: How heat affects student achievement” research report that examines the impact of environmental temperatures on student performance in math and reading, and whether those effects are more extreme for students in high-poverty schools, where cooling conditions may be less reliable.
By: Sofia Postell, Megan Kuhfeld, Susan Kowalski, Jazmin Isaacs
Products: MAP Growth


Hot test days, lower math scores: How heat affects student achievement
This NWEA research report examines the impact of environmental temperatures on student performance in math and reading, and whether those effects are more extreme for students in high-poverty schools, where cooling conditions may be less reliable.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Jim Soland, Sofia Postell
Products: MAP Growth


NWEA’s MAP Growth National Dashboard provides timely trends and data on U.S. student academic achievement and growth for grades K-8. This free public tool supports district leaders, state and federal policymakers, and other education stakeholders in interpreting local data within a broader national and state context. It helps identify areas of strength, shine light on disparities, and ground policy conversations in evidence.
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Equity, Growth


Trend Snapshots: Math Recovery Continues, Reading Remains Stalled in Spring 2025
This short research brief highlights trends seen in the latest data released in the NWEA Map Growth National Dashboard. In this first edition of Trend Snapshots, key findings from Spring 2025 data highlight a modest, incremental recovery post COVID, but stalled progress in reading achievement.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: COVID-19 & schools, Growth


Technical Appendix: MAP Growth National Dashboard
This is the accompanying technical appendix to the MAP Growth National Dashboard providing more details of the data and describing more fully the sample and methods used within the dashboard.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Topics: Growth


User Guide and FAQ: MAP Growth National Dashboard
This user guide explains how to navigate the MAP® Growth™ National Dashboard, understand the key metrics and terms, make appropriate comparisons of data, and communicate findings responsibly. This guide also includes a robust “Frequently Asked Questions” section that provides in-depth answers about the dashboard and its uses.
By: Karyn Lewis, Megan Kuhfeld
Products: MAP Growth
Topics: Growth


Severe weather events are no longer isolated anomalies. They are becoming a regular part of the school year in communities across the country. This brief highlights how severe weather events can cause deep and lasting disruptions to student learning and well-being, often in ways that far exceed the immediate days schools are closed. It also makes clear that while some communities are disproportionately at risk, no school is immune.
By: Megan Kuhfeld, Jim Soland, Sofia Postell